Browsing by Author "Gikonyo, Nicholas K."

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    Efficacy of crude methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. against Leishmania major
    (Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, 2014-03) Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi ; Anjili, Christopher O.; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.; Ngure, Veronica; Ingonga, Johnstone M.
    Leishmania major is a protozoan parasite responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in humans. CL is transmitted via a bite by infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Research on herbal therapy for leishmaniases is increasing globally because conventional drugs are costly, toxic and require a prolonged administration. In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of dried Allium sativum (garlic) and Moringa stenopetala methanolic extracts against L. major were studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methanolic extracts of A. sativum (A) and M. stenopetala(M) against L. major were 3 and 5 mg/ml and IC50 of 863.12 and 1752.92 μg/ml respectively. The blend AM (1:1) hadIC50 of 372.1μg/ml and promastigotes’ viability of 71.03% compared to IC50 of 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml and promastigotes’viability of 18.41% and 12.22% for Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Multiplication indices (MIs) of L. major amastigotes ranged from 43.67% to 45.93% after treatment with extracts A or M or blend AM at 125μg/ml and were significantly different (P < 0.05) from Liposomal amphotericin B at 12.5μg/ml. Oral extract A reduced significantly (P > 0.05) L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice while oral extract M did not. Blend AM (ip) reduced the lesion sizes and its efficacy was close to Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B. Oral extract A had a high parasite reduction rate of 60.70% and average LDU of 0.22±0.15 compared to Pentostam at 66.40% and LDU of 0.18±0.08. In conclusion, methanolic extract of A. sativum showed anti-leishmanial activity both in vitro and in vivo and it decreased L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice. Methanolic extracts of M. stenopetala (ip) reduced the amastigotes burden in spleens of BALB/c mice. A blend of garlic and moringa methanolic extracts (AM at 1:1) were active against L. major. The active ingredients in crude methanolic extracts of garlic and moringa plants should be established and tested against L. major when blended.
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    In vitro activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Callistemon citrinus (Family Myrtaceae) against Leishmania major
    (African Journal of Health Sciences, 2014-04) Anjili, Christopher O.; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi; Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Ingonga, Johnny M.; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.
    Leishmania major is a protozoan parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis and the standard drugs are expensive and toxic. Cheaper and safer natural drugs are therefore needed. In this study, the in vitro efficacy of crude extracts of Callistemon citrinus were tested against L. major. Controls were anti leishmanial drugs pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of C. citrinus crude aqueous and methanolic extracts were 5mg/ml and 1mg/ml respectively compared to 12.5μg/ml and 6.25μg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. The IC50 for C. citrinus extracts against promastigotes ranged from 297.75 to 572.69μg/ml compared to 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B. The IC50 for C. citrinus extracts against vero cells ranged from 467μg/ml to 1314.65μg/ml. The promastigotes’ viability after treatment with aqueous and methanolic extracts was 69.58% and 75.74% respectively. At 125μg/ml, the aqueous and methanolic C. citrinus extracts had in vitro amastigotes’ infection rates (IRs) of 77.0±2.50 % and 77.5±3.50% respectively. The multiplication indices (MIs) and IRs of amastigotes treated with C. citrinus crude aqueous extracts and those treated with crude methanolic extracts differed insignificantly (P > 0.05). C. citrinus methanolic extracts stimulated production of about 20μM nitric oxide in BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages suggesting immuno-modulatory role of the extracts. The crude aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. citrinus were therefore concluded to be relatively less toxic and possessed in vitro anti-leishmanial activity against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes.
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    In vitro and in vivo activities of blends of crude aqueous extracts from Allium sativum L, Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels and Moringa stenopetala (Baker F) Cufodontis against Leishmania major
    (Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, 2013-06) Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Anjili, Christopher O.; Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.; Ingonga, Johnstone M.
    Leishmania major caused cutaneous leishmaniasis leads to painful skin sores in humans and usual drugs are expensive, toxic, and require prolonged use. The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of aqueous crude extracts from Callistemon citrinus flowers (B), Allium sativum bulbs (C) and Moringa stenopetala leaves (A) against L. major was studied. Controls were pentostam, liposomal amphotericin B, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Dried and ground plant materials were soaked in distilled water at 70oC for 1.5 hours, filtered and freeze dried to obtain aqueous extracts. L. major infected BALB/c mice were treated orally or intra peritoneally (ip) with blends of the extracts. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of single extracts ranged from 3 to 5mg/ml while IC50 from 297 to 575μg/ml compared to MICs of 12.50 and 6.25μg/ml and IC50 of 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Blends of M. stenopetala and C. citrinus (AB), M. stenopetala and A. sativum (AC), and C. citrinus and A. sativum (BC) at concentrations based on MICs of individual extracts were active at ratios 1:1, 1:9 and 1:1 with promastigotes’ viabilities of 33.82%, 17.41% and 60.74 % respectively. IC50 for blends AB, AC, and BC ranged from 174μg/ml to 1314μg/ml against promastigotes. The individual extracts comprising blends AB, AC and BC interacted additively and synergistically in several combination ratios. Blend AC (1:1) at 125μg/ml had in vitro infection rate (IR) of 71% and multiplication index (MI) of 48.20% for L. major amastigotes compared to IR of 67% and MI of 47.51% for pentostam at 12.50μg/ml. Oral blend BC (1:1) reduced the mice footpad lesion size significantly (P < 0.05). Both oral blends BC and AC reduced mice spleen amastigotes by 48.33% and 60.94% with total LDUs of 6.35 ± 0.66 and 4.80 ± 0.95 respectively. Oral blend AB (1:1) lowered spleen amastigotes by 6.5% with total LDU of 11.49 ± 6.84. In conclusion, aqueous blends of C. citrinus, A. sativum and M. stenopetala extracts that interacted additively or synergistically were less toxic but active against L. major.
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    Toxicity and efficacy of aqueous crude extracts from Allium sativum, Callistemon citrinus and Moringa stenopetala against L. Major
    (Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation, 2015) Gikonyo, Nicholas K.; Kinuthia, Geoffrey K.; Anjili, Christopher O.; Kabiru, Ephantus Wanjohi ; Kigondu, Elizabeth M.; Ingonga, Johnny M.
    Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment involves pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, pentamidine, miltefosine among others. These drugs are toxic, costly, and require prolonged use. CL is a protozoan skin infection which may lead to disfiguring and stigmatization. In Kenya, CL is common in Baringo County where it is caused by Leishmania major and transmitted by infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Leishmaniases are common in poverty stricken areas where victims opt for local herbal therapies. Herbs used haven’t been tested scientifically to verify their toxicity and efficacy. The current study determines in vitro toxicity and in vivo efficacy of aqueous crude extracts of Moringa stenopetala, Callistemon citrinus, and Allium sativum against L. major. The IC50 of aqueous extracts against promastigotes ranged from 297μg/ml to 575μg/ml compared to Pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B with IC50 of 0.26μg/ml and 0.82μg/ml respectively. The viability of promastigotes upon exposure to extracts ranged from 52.55% to 60.57%. Similarly the IC50 of extracts against vero cells ranged between 467μg/ml to 2105μg/ml compared to 108μg/ml and 60μg/ml for pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Orally administered A. sativum reduced L. major caused footpad lesions significantly (P < 0.05) when compared to control PBS. The efficacy of oral C. citrinus extracts (B) in reducing amastigotes in spleens of infected BALB/c mice was 82.99%, followed by oral M. stenopetala (A) at 66.96% and oral A. sativum (C) at 60.37% compared to pentostam and liposomal amphotericin B at 66.40% and 60.62% respectively. The difference between the mean total LDUs for aqueous oral C. citrinus extracts and control oral PBS was significant (P = 0.017). It was concluded that crude aqueous extracts of A. sativum, M. stenopetala, and C. citrinus show antileishmanial activity at low toxicity. Inclusion of garlic and moringa in the diets of people in leishmaniases foci should be emphasized.